Here’s a rod and reel for anyone who wants to haul big fish from any kind of water.

The legend of Ugly Stik goes beyond the name Shakespeare. It’s been a favorite of fisherman the nation over. Its followers are dedicated to the rod’s unbelievable strength and sheer fish-hauling power. But the Ugly Stik’s reputation is about to get another serious boost. The Ugly Stik Tiger is a rod of unbelievable toughness.

I got a personal demonstration of the rod’s power by Shakespeare’s own public relation’s man, Mark Davis.

While fishing for giant catfish on the Missouri River, one of the rods snagged into the bottom of the muddy river. Instead of just clipping the line, Davis took the opportunity to show just how tough the rod really is.

He took the Tiger and put it over his shoulder and started walking. Soon the rod was doubled over and even sooner people were starting to duck in fear the rod would explode. But it didn’t, and Davis pushed harder and the rod continued to take abuse that would’ve broken a 2x4.

It didn’t take anything else to make me a believer. The Tiger series of Ugly Stiks has to be one of the most impressive rods I’ve ever seen. If you plan on pulling in some big fish in your future, this is the rod for you.

It has more than just strength to make it a winner as well. It’s offered with Perfection stainless steel reinforced ring guides and Fuji aluminum oxide tips. These rods are custom-designed for live-bait type actions with fast taper blanks and reinforced fighting butts.

Choosing a reel to go with such a fine rod isn’t a hard task. There are some that would do the trick, but why not go with one of the best – an Ambassaduer 7000C-3. That name has been in fishing for a long time and for good reasons. The Ambassaduer reels that my dad and granddad used are just as great as the ones you can buy today.

These workhorse reels feature rugged frames of chromium-plated brass, centrifugal brakes with 4 interchangeable weights to cope with heavy lures, and on/off click alarms. The 7000 has bronze bushings and side plates of anodized aluminum. The 7000C-3 features 3 stainless steel ball bearings to keep it smooth and take on monsters of the deep.

The specs on the reel are quite impressive. It boasts 4.1:1 gear ratio and 26 inches of line recovery per handle turn. It weighs a beefy 17.8 ounces and holds 200 yards of 30-pound line.

When you’ve got your mind set on big fish, this is definitely the big tackle you need. The Tiger’s strength and the 7000’s brute power combine to give you the ultimate in heavy-duty angling. Price: $55.99-$57.99 (rod), $119.95 (reel).

* You can purchase the Tiger rod by clicking here.
You can purchase the 7000C-3 by clicking here.

* Price given at time of product review and is subject to change. Click on the link for the most current price.